NEW YORK – The United Nations and its host city, noted for periodic quarrels over diplomatic deadbeats and parking scofflaws, are involved in another domestic spat – this time over $6 million in rent the city wants for unbuilt office and residential space near the U.N. headquarters.

In an audit report made public Thursday, City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. said that from 2003 to 2006, the United Nations Development Corp. failed to pay $12 million in rent required under a lease agreement to develop additional office space for the world body.

As a result of the audit, the UNDC paid $6 million in back rent in April but still owes the balance, Thompson said in a statement.

“In this tight fiscal environment we cannot afford to let any revenue slip through our fingers,” Thompson said, criticizing the UNDC and the city’s Economic Development Corporation for not ensuring that the city receive the entire unpaid amount.

The dispute concerns a UNDC project to build a 35-story tower for U.N. use on the site of a city park. Neighborhood residents objected to losing the area’s only green space, and plans for the project were suspended in 2005.

In a response included in the report, the UNDC denies owing any more money. Jeff Feldman, president and CEO of the UNDC, did not immediately return a call.

UN diplomats have frequently squabbled with local authorities over diplomatic immunity regarding taxes, unpaid parking tickets and other issues.

While treaties define consulates and embassies as sovereign territories, thus generally tax-exempt, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that New York City could collect taxes on properties used by foreign countries for non-diplomatic purposes.

A federal judge later ordered the Indian, Mongolian and Philippines governments to pay $57.6 million in property taxes to the city.

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